Removable table extension

ABSTRACT

A table extension includes an extension top having an extension underside, an extension top side, and an extension edge therebetween. A single foldable leg is mounted to the extension underside of the extension top side. A part of a connecting means for removably connecting the table extension to a table top and a part of a latching means for releasably securing the table extension to a table top are mounted to the extension underside of the extension top side. The foldable leg may have a foot with a bottom that is no wider than the rest of the foldable leg and they may be cylindrical. The male part of the connecting means may include a male bar assembly having a base attached to the extension underside at or near the extension edge of the extension top and spaced apart bars extending away from the base past the extension edge.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The invention relates to table extensions that attach to tables such as those found in restaurants and, more particularly, to table extensions that have legs for support and are removable so that they can be stored away.

2. Description of Related Art

Table extensions are well known devises to extend lengths of table tops and the eating surfaces of tables. Restaurants often have to extend table lengths and often use smaller tables to do so but these take up lots of storage space and are typically less stable than the main table. There is a great need for a table extension that is sturdy, stable, and easy to store.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A table extension includes an extension top having an extension underside, an extension top side, and an extension edge between the extension underside, the extension top side, and a single foldable leg mounted to the extension underside of the extension top side. An exemplary embodiment of the table extension includes a male part of a connecting means for removably connecting the table extension to a table top and a first part of a latching means for releasably securing the table extension to a table top both of which are mounted to the extension underside of the extension top side. The foldable leg has a foot with a bottom that contacts a floor upon which the table extension rests that is no wider than the rest of the foldable leg. The foldable leg and the foot are cylindrical. An exemplary embodiment of the male part of the connecting means includes a male bar assembly having a base attached to the extension underside at or near the extension edge of the extension top and spaced apart bars extending away from the base past the extension edge.

An extended table assembly includes the table extension connected to a fixed table having a table top which includes a table underside, a table top side, and a table edge between the table underside and the table top side. The connecting means for removably connecting the table extension to the table top is mounted to the extension underside of the extension top side and the table underside. The latching means for releasably securing the table extension to the table top is also mounted to the extension underside of the extension top side and the table underside. The extension and table edges of the extended table assembly illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 3 mate along a straight surface, alternatively, the extension and table edges may mate along a curved surface if the extension and table edges are curved.

One embodiment of the extended table assembly includes a bridge section disposed between the fixed table and the table extension. The bridge section includes a bridge top having a bridge underside, a bridge top side, and a bridge edge between the bridge underside and the bridge top side. The single foldable leg is mounted to the extension underside of the extension top side. The extended table assembly further includes a first connecting means for removably connecting the table extension to the bridge section and a second connecting means for removably connecting the bridge section to the table top. A first latching means is provided for releasably securing the table extension to the bridge section and a second latching means is provided for releasably securing the bridge section to the table top. The first and second connecting means are each illustrated as having a male bar assembly including a base attached to the extension underside at or near an edge of the extension top and spaced apart bars extending away from the base. The first and second connecting means are each illustrated as including a female bar assembly attached to the table underside and having spaced apart slots positioned to receive the spaced apart bars respectively.

The table extension with a single foldable leg mounted to an extension underside of the extension top side is an easy way to store the table extension also saving expensive room in restaurants in particular. It is extremely stable and easy to install and uninstall. It greatly facilitates the assembly of an extended table assembly which includes the table extension connected to a fixed table top that is sturdy and stable so that the table extension will not rock, slide, twist, or fall.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The foregoing aspects and other features of the invention are explained in the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings where:

FIG. 1 is an underside perspective view illustration of a removable table extension with the folding leg to be connected to a table top.

FIG. 2 is an underside perspective view illustration of the removable table extension illustrated in FIG. 1 with the folding leg folded down in a stowable position.

FIG. 3 is an underside view illustration of the removable table extension connected to the table top illustrated in FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is an underside perspective view illustration of a removable table extension with a folding leg for use with a round table top.

FIG. 5 is an underside view illustration of the removable table extension connected to the round table top illustrated in FIG. 4.

FIG. 6 is an underside perspective view illustration of the removable table extension illustrated in FIG. 1 with a bridge between the extension and the table top.

FIG. 7 is an underside view illustration of the removable table extension and bridge connected to the round table top illustrated in FIG. 6.

FIG. 8 is an underside view illustration of the removable table extension and a rectangular bridge connected to the rectangular table top illustrated in FIG. 1.

FIG. 9 is an top view illustration of the removable table extension connected to the table top illustrated in FIG. 1.

FIG. 10 is an top view illustration of the removable table extension connected to the table top illustrated in FIG. 4.

FIG. 11 is an top view illustration of the removable table extension and bridge connected to the table top illustrated in FIG. 6.

FIG. 12 is an top view illustration of the removable table extension and bridge connected to a rectangular table top.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2 is a table extension 10 including an extension top 12 having an extension underside 14, an extension top side 16, and an extension edge 18 between the extension underside 14 and the extension top side 16. A single foldable leg 22 is mounted to the extension underside 14 of the extension top side 16. The table extension 10 is illustrated in FIG. 2 with the single foldable leg 22 folded down and in a position for being stored or stowed away. A male part 17 of a connecting means 24 for removably connecting the table extension to a table top 20 and a first part 19 of a latching means 26 for releasably securing the table extension to a table top 20 are mounted to the extension underside 14 of the extension top side 16. An exemplary embodiment of the table extension 10 includes the foldable leg 22 having a foot 28 with a bottom 29, that contacts a floor (not shown) upon which the table extension 10 rests, that is no wider than the rest of the foldable leg. This helps the table extension 10 be more easily stowed, take up less space when stowed, and be less obtrusive to people sitting around the table extension. The foldable leg 22 and the foot 28 are cylindrical.

The male part 17 of the connecting means 24 includes a male bar assembly 30 having a base 32 attached to the extension underside 14 at or near the extension edge 18 of the extension top 12 and spaced apart bars 34 extending away from the base 32 past the extension edge 18. This feature also contributes to the table extension 10 being easily stowed and eliminates the need for any bars to extend outwardly from a table top 20 to which the table extension 10 is designed to be connected.

The table extension 10 is illustrated in FIGS. 1-3 and 9 as part of an exemplary embodiment of an extended table assembly 40. The extended table assembly 40 includes a fixed table 50 having a table top 20 which includes a table underside 54, a table top side 56, and a table edge 58 between the table underside 54 and the table top side 56. The connecting means 24 for removably connecting the table extension to the table top 20 is mounted to the extension underside 14 of the extension top side 16 and the table underside 54. The latching means 26 for releasably securing the table extension to the table top 20 is also mounted to the extension underside 14 of the extension top side 16 and the table underside 54. The extension and table edges 18 and 58 of the extended table assembly 40 illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 3 mate along a straight surface 68.

The connecting means 24 is illustrated as a male bar assembly 30 having a base 32 attached to the extension underside 14 at or near the extension edge 18 of the extension top 12. Spaced apart bars 34 extend away from the base 32. The connecting means 24 is further illustrated as having a female bar assembly 60 attached to the table underside 54 and having spaced apart slots 62 positioned to receive the spaced apart bars 34 respectively.

The latching means 26 includes a latch 120 and a keeper 36. The latch 120, serving as the first part 19 of the latching means 26, is illustrated as attached to the base 32 of the male part 17 of the connecting means 24 and, thus, is indirectly mounted to the extension underside 14 of the extension top side 16. The keeper 36 is illustrated as attached to the female bar assembly 60 of the connecting means 24 and, thus, is indirectly mounted to the table underside 54 of the table top 20 of the fixed table 50.

The extended table assembly 40 illustrated in FIGS. 4, 5, and 10 includes extension and table edges 18 and 58 that mate along a curved surface 70. The table top 20 and the table underside 54 are illustrated as being circular but may be of any shape with at least a portion of table edge 58 being curved. The extension top 12 and an extension underside 14 are illustrated as being rectangular with a circular cut-out section 42 which mates with the circular table top 20 and table underside 54 along the curved surface 70 of the extension and table edges 18 and 58.

The extended table assembly 40 illustrated in FIGS. 6, 7, and 11 includes a bridge section 80 disposed between the fixed table 50 and the table extension 10. The bridge section 80 includes a bridge top 82 having a bridge underside 84, a bridge top side 86, and a bridge edge 88 between the bridge underside 84 and the bridge top side 86. The single foldable leg 22 is mounted to the extension underside 14 of the extension top side 16. The extended table assembly 40 further includes a first connecting means 24 for removably connecting the table extension 10 to the bridge section 80 and a second connecting means 90 for removably connecting the bridge section 80 to the table top 20. A first latching means 26 is provided for releasably securing the table extension 10 to the bridge section 80 and a second latching means 92 is provided for releasably securing the bridge section 80 to the table top 20. The first and second connecting means 24 and 90 are each illustrated as having a male bar assembly 30 including a base 32 attached to the extension underside 14 at or near an edge of the extension top 12 and spaced apart bars 34 extending away from the base 32. The first and second connecting means 24 and 90 are each illustrated each as including a female bar assembly 60 attached to the table underside 54 and having spaced apart slots 62 positioned to receive the spaced apart bars 34 respectively.

The extended table assembly 40 illustrated in FIGS. 6, 7 and 11 has the bridge and table edges 88 and 58 mate along a curved surface 70. The table top 20 and the table underside 54 are illustrated as being circular but may be of any shape with at least a portion of table edge 58 being curved. The bridge top 82 and the bridge underside 84 are illustrated as being rectangular with a circular cut-out section 42 which mates with the circular table top 20 and table underside 54 along the curved surface 70 of the bridge and table edges 88 and 58. The extension top 12 and an extension underside 14 are rectangular. In an alternative configuration, the table top 20, extension top 12, and the bridge top 82 may all be rectangular as illustrated in FIGS. 8 and 12.

The present invention has been described in an illustrative manner. It is to be understood that the terminology which has been used is intended to be in the nature of words of description rather than of limitation. While there have been described herein, what are considered to be preferred and exemplary embodiments of the present invention, other modifications of the invention shall be apparent to those skilled in the art from the teachings herein and, it is, therefore, desired to be secured in the appended claims all such modifications as fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention.

Accordingly, what is desired to be secured by Letters Patent of the United States is the invention as defined and differentiated in the following claims: 

1. A table extension comprising: an extension top having an extension underside, an extension top side, and an extension edge between the extension underside and the extension top side; a single foldable leg mounted to the extension underside of the extension top side; a part of a connecting means for removably connecting the table extension to a table top mounted to the extension underside of the extension top side; and a part of a latching means for releasably securing the table extension to a table top mounted to the extension underside of the extension top side.
 2. A table extension as claimed in claim 1 further comprising the foldable leg having a foot no wider than the rest of the foldable leg.
 3. A table extension as claimed in claim 2 wherein the foldable leg and the foot are cylindrical.
 4. A table extension as claimed in claim 1 further comprising the part of the connecting means having a male bar assembly including a base attached to the extension underside at or near the extension edge of the extension top and spaced apart bars extending away from the base past the extension edge.
 5. A table extension as claimed in claim 4 further comprising the foldable leg having a foot no wider than the rest of the foldable leg.
 6. A table extension as claimed in claim 5 wherein the foldable leg and the foot are cylindrical.
 7. An extended table assembly comprising: a fixed table having a table top including a table underside, a table top side, and a table edge between the table underside and the table top side; a table extension including an extension top having an extension underside, a extension top side, and an extension edge between the extension underside and the extension top side; a single foldable leg mounted to the extension underside of the extension top side; a connecting means for removably connecting the table extension to the table top; and a latching means for releasably securing the table extension to the table top.
 8. An extended table assembly as claimed in claim 7 further comprising the foldable leg having a foot no wider than the rest of the foldable leg.
 9. An extended table assembly as claimed in claim 8 wherein the foldable leg and the foot are cylindrical.
 10. An extended table assembly as claimed in claim 7 further comprising: the connecting means having a male bar assembly including a base attached to the extension underside at or near an edge of the extension top and spaced apart bars extending away from the base, and the connecting means further including a female bar assembly attached to the table underside and having spaced apart slots positioned to receive the spaced apart bars respectively.
 11. An extended table assembly as claimed in claim 10 further comprising the foldable leg having a foot no wider than the rest of the foldable leg.
 12. An extended table assembly as claimed in claim 11 wherein the foldable leg and the foot are cylindrical.
 13. An extended table assembly as claimed in claim 7 wherein the extension and table edges mate along a curved surface.
 14. An extended table assembly as claimed in claim 13 further comprising: the connecting means having a male bar assembly including a base attached to the extension underside at or near an edge of the extension top and spaced apart bars extending away from the base, and the connecting means further including a female bar assembly attached to the table underside and having spaced apart slots positioned within which the spaced apart bars are received therein respectively.
 15. An extended table assembly as claimed in claim 14 further comprising the foldable leg having a foot no wider than the rest of the foldable leg.
 16. An extended table assembly as claimed in claim 15 wherein the foldable leg and the foot are cylindrical.
 17. An extended table assembly comprising: a fixed table having a table top including a table underside, a table top side, and a table edge between the table underside and the table top side; a table extension including an extension top having an extension underside and a extension top side and an extension edge between the extension underside and the extension top side; a bridge section disposed between the fixed table and the table extension; the bridge section including a bridge top having a bridge underside, a bridge top side, and a bridge edge between the bridge underside and the bridge top side; a single foldable leg mounted to the extension underside of the extension top side; a first connecting means for removably connecting the table extension to the bridge section; a second connecting means for removably connecting the bridge section to the table top; a first latching means for releasably securing the table extension to the bridge section; and a second latching means for releasably securing the bridge section to the table top.
 18. An extended table assembly as claimed in claim 17 further comprising the foldable leg having a foot no wider than the rest of the foldable leg.
 19. An extended table assembly as claimed in claim 18 wherein the foldable leg and the foot are cylindrical.
 20. An extended table assembly as claimed in claim 17 further comprising: the first and second connecting means each having a male bar assembly including a base attached to the extension underside at or near an edge of the extension top and spaced apart bars extending away from the base, and the first and second connecting means each further including a female bar assembly attached to the table underside and having spaced apart slots positioned to receive the spaced apart bars respectively.
 21. An extended table assembly as claimed in claim 20 further comprising the foldable leg having a foot no wider than the rest of the foldable leg.
 22. An extended table assembly as claimed in claim 21 wherein the foldable leg and the foot are cylindrical.
 23. An extended table assembly as claimed in claim 17 wherein the bridge and table edges mate along a curved surface.
 24. An extended table assembly as claimed in claim 23 further comprising: the first and second connecting means each having a male bar assembly including a base attached to the extension underside at or near an edge of the extension top and spaced apart bars extending away from the base, and the first and second connecting means each further including a female bar assembly attached to the table underside and having spaced apart slots positioned to receive the spaced apart bars respectively.
 25. An extended table assembly as claimed in claim 24 further comprising the foldable leg having a foot no wider than the rest of the foldable leg.
 26. An extended table assembly as claimed in claim 25 wherein the foldable leg and the foot are cylindrical. 